tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6959918163454225829.post7163558277613740699..comments2024-03-27T14:18:47.272-04:00Comments on Blue House Journal: The Week Behind: Patiently Contentterricheneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06865436021565986224noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6959918163454225829.post-88320550636668663442020-04-08T16:49:39.307-04:002020-04-08T16:49:39.307-04:00Shirley, I'm glad that you are inspired by my ...Shirley, I'm glad that you are inspired by my words. Thank you for saying you find some solace here during this odd time in our lives.terricheneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06865436021565986224noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6959918163454225829.post-1748281876794651402020-04-07T22:35:29.106-04:002020-04-07T22:35:29.106-04:00Hi Terri - I think of you often as I work around m...Hi Terri - I think of you often as I work around my home and gardens! Home is our weapon, that phrase has gone through my head so many times since I read it. I so enjoy your blog and find reading it an escape from this strange season we are going through. Thank you! My Mom is still well though they now have 3 positive cases at her care facility. Thankfully, I can Skype with her almost everyday. Any frugal tips or recipes that you have time to share are much appreciated! Blessings, ShirleyShirley in Washingtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02710322970098676789noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6959918163454225829.post-57951998944954887992020-04-07T08:43:23.228-04:002020-04-07T08:43:23.228-04:00Terri, thank you for the sausage muffin recipe. I...Terri, thank you for the sausage muffin recipe. I love the tip on how to make your own Bisquick and I think I can convert that to gluten free. I haven’t tried the buttermilk bread yet as I have to get buttermilk, but I did take note of your tips. Who would have thought that LESS yeast would have been better? I do need to save some of the buttermilk and culture it for as we can’t just run to the grocery anymore. <br /><br />We finally had some nicer days and the sun shone! It seemed as if it would stay gray and cold forever. I have been trying to pace myself with the yard cleanup, pruning and fertilizing. I have to build up endurance and not kill myself with marathon gardening days. My husband did just get the garden tilled and ready for planting and our two younger boys helped me plant some peas, onions, and lettuce today. They just came out to help me and I thought that was sweet. Nice to spend some time in the sunshine with my boys as I know these times are limited with them growing up. We jumped the gun and put our outside furniture on our front porch. We usually wait until the middle of April as it can still snow for a bit yet, but we were just too excited this year! I can’t wait for it to be warm enough to sit on the porch with my coffee in the morning.<br /><br />I am planning on making some face masks this week and just need to find good quilting type cotton fabric in my stash. One of my son’s friend’s mother has a bit of a quilt shop on the top of her garage and I am going to see if I can have her put.a few yards of fabric on her front porch for me. Oh, and I need a new apron or two also so maybe after I get done with masks I could do that. I wear my aprons daily and some are looking quite worn and stained. I would love to see a picture of yours when you are done.<br /><br />Well I am off to bed asI feel just beat this evening. All the fresh air I suppose. Have a lovely evening and hugs to you!Karen in WInoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6959918163454225829.post-18172821324095503282020-04-07T00:13:41.387-04:002020-04-07T00:13:41.387-04:00P.S. I forgot to mention that our county has had a...P.S. I forgot to mention that our county has had a stay home order for several weeks barring essential travel for supplies etc. Walks are fine as long as social distancing is kept. <br />Xox Tracey Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6959918163454225829.post-72251189124366802552020-04-06T23:49:27.177-04:002020-04-06T23:49:27.177-04:00Hi Terri! Before I get sidetracked I wanted to say...Hi Terri! Before I get sidetracked I wanted to say that I love all your tips and pantry/menu tricks! Our stores are very well stocked now, but it took a few weeks. Staples such as rice and beans are still hard to come by from San Diego to LA and places in between (where we are) but we can find cheese again and meat and poultry which were/are still slightly scarce from time to time. For the first few weeks we couldn't find fresh potatoes anywhere which I thought was odd. However, after some thought, I realized that they do last a while in cooler temperatures and are a great staple. No problem now, thank goodness. Rosie is only about 20 miles away in more southern Orange County and none of their stores have had much beef at all. Mike and I had plenty in our freezer so we dropped off a nice full bag to her and her husband a few days ago. It was his birthday last week and they had a birthday party with their friends using FaceTime which I thought was so funny and clever. The stores are very strict regarding social distancing. They have lines outside with tape on the sidewalk spaced 6 feet apart. The same inside to keep the checkout lines the appropriate distance. Like you, we keep a healthy pantry so I didn't fuss much. I did try to reorder some of our Costco staples but they were sold out and have been for weeks. We didn't even try to go in person. I did miss our cheeses at first though, and Mike missed his milk. No problem finding either now. Fresh eggs were another scarce item at first. Again, readily available now. Thank heavens. One thing we could find regularly were fresh fruits and veggies. That was a blessing for sure. I'll admit that this experience has reinforced my gratitude for our normal abundance in this country. How very lucky we are. <br /><br />The governor has closed all the beaches and parks here. One of our little treats is driving through and getting a cup of coffee on the weekends. We live very near the coast so we usually say hi to the ocean along the way but lately, like you, we've been taking the long way home and it's a refreshing little change. It's pretty crazy how many people we see out...the die-hard surfers are still surfing...but not near as many as normal times. But no crowds. We have also been trying to support our local restraurants by bringing in a meal or two as a treat on the weekends. We don't normally eat out much so it's a nice change and hopefully helps the local economy. That's about it here in so Cal. Very very quiet as well. The roads and freeways are so light in traffic even at rush hour. It's almost surreal. We are getting used to the stillness so much so that I'm afraid we'll need to readjust again when it's back to normal haha. So glad to hear all are well. I do believe this entire experience will, in hindsight, be deemed a blessing in disguise. Prayers and good thoughts to you and all good souls here. <br />Much Love,<br />Tracey<br />XoxAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6959918163454225829.post-55302499505900032762020-04-04T21:30:09.566-04:002020-04-04T21:30:09.566-04:00More of the pantry, recipes meal tips would be won...More of the pantry, recipes meal tips would be wonderful<br />ThanksAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6959918163454225829.post-55811331213405137472020-04-04T14:26:21.946-04:002020-04-04T14:26:21.946-04:00Would love all the frugal tips and recipes you hav...Would love all the frugal tips and recipes you have. Can never have enough!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6959918163454225829.post-89222019393186364182020-04-04T13:38:54.887-04:002020-04-04T13:38:54.887-04:00Nothing to be ashamed of Lana...I looked up the in...Nothing to be ashamed of Lana...I looked up the info myself but having read LOADS of historical things I was pretty sure it had been around by different names. 1918 was the first time the words "Influenza" were used. It was even called La Grippe at some points as well. <br />terricheneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06865436021565986224noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6959918163454225829.post-59180484149511976122020-04-03T23:28:14.753-04:002020-04-03T23:28:14.753-04:00Hanging my head in shame for not checking the fact...Hanging my head in shame for not checking the facts and just going with what my daughter said. She is just really stressed out living in a big city in an apartment building with small children. They cannot even go outside. Lanahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09380649410508372279noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6959918163454225829.post-13722317939091493422020-04-03T21:10:58.314-04:002020-04-03T21:10:58.314-04:00Wendi, I was just wondering if I could buy tomato ...Wendi, I was just wondering if I could buy tomato plants in town. I'll get something out. I need to dig through my seeds and see what I already have on hand. Guess I'll do that tomorrow.<br />We are on an official order to stay at home, stores now allowing only 5 people at a time in, etc. <br />I think I spent more because I'd heard so much was out and when I saw they had a good supply of things I bought what I needed and one extra instead of saying it could wait until next time. Glad I got Bess produce. She went shopping the very next day, same store that was fully stocked and because of the nothing but essential business order put out starting April 4, people were raiding stores all over again and nothing was left.<br /><br />Lana, Anne is right there were flu virus, often referred to as 'grippe' but the 1918 Spanish flu was a particularly virulent variety and like this one many people caught it, transmitted and died from it. Our great fortune now is that we have antibiotics to fight the pneumonia that often results from the illness, unlike those in 1918. And you are right, we'll build immunity, and get a vaccine and it will come back year after year during cold/flu seasons but not be as devastating as it has been this round.<br /><br />I agree that good fresh foods are immunity builders. <br /> <br />Am mentally slapping hand across forehead...WHY did I not think to oven fry? It's the only way we ever used to have fried chicken!<br /><br />Sarah, Life as we know it changes daily. Now we must wear masks of any type, even a scarf or bandana over our face when we go out. I did muse that no one would think it odd just now and fear they were being robbed, lol...I'm glad I have a good supply of scarves and John was given a handmade mask by one of the Mennonite girls who hang about EMS office when a female medic is working. He was appreciative of it!<br /><br />Yes, there are things I didn't get despite visiting two stores. I got all purpose flour at Aldi but Mama wanted self rising. No such critter there and I got one of the last of 2 2-pound bags at Publix. It was unreal to see that the whole of the sugar/flour section was empty except for those 2 lonely little bags.<br /><br />terricheneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06865436021565986224noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6959918163454225829.post-22955220900777674802020-04-03T15:11:38.116-04:002020-04-03T15:11:38.116-04:00It sounds like your retirement is social security
...It sounds like your retirement is social security<br />So at least you can count on that<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6959918163454225829.post-10752452328883847272020-04-03T14:33:07.912-04:002020-04-03T14:33:07.912-04:00Yes, there were flu viruses, and others, before 19...Yes, there were flu viruses, and others, before 1918, but no one knew what viruses were so they were not called as such. It wasn't until the 1930s that microscopes existed that could see a virus.Annehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14677933410879520343noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6959918163454225829.post-58517700862356488812020-04-03T13:52:53.637-04:002020-04-03T13:52:53.637-04:00I always love hearing any money saving menus/recip...I always love hearing any money saving menus/recipes or other ideas you have. Our stores are hit and miss. Aldi this week had a pretty compete deli area and finally had some fresh meat but little else. Still no eggs or milk. The other store had a good fresh vegetable section but most shelves were mostly bare but did have some oatmeal and a few rolls of toilet paper for this in need of it. I notice when areas seem 'full' if you look they have put the same item out in several different places to help it look that way. Some items that are usually for sale are still gone. They are doing the best they can. Flour seems to be one of the things hard to find anywhere. Any kind of it Manager said they cannot find any to stock. We did see sugar a couple weeks ago at one store, but none since. Everywhere you can find lots of chocolate chips, icing and the sort. Those are not basics and it is the basics that are gone. The rows of granola and energy type bars was full! :)<br /><br />We are doing good. Got some thing neighbors wanted when we did have to go out. One child still working at work the other just this next week has to start working from home. I heard the news about the come back on this virus later in the fall. So much is new and not known and we will have to wait it out. Everyone is holding their breath onto many issues. No wonder we all feel stress. Then throw people closer together and tell them you have no idea for how long and... All our activities stopped and life a we knew it has so suddenly shifted. Too much to take in. ! Then our little health clinic closed temporarily. We were told this by phone recording but no talk of what to do about the appointments we had for soon or were our doctor is now etc.. Every family has their concerns. Every family has their life ajar and unsettled in one or many ways right now. The only steady thing it seems now is our faith. What I would do without it ..I don't know.<br />As said before,.. here in America we have been so abundantly blessed for so long. We were used to it. Took it for granted. Yes of course we will make it through this. It just seems so unreal right now. :) SarahAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6959918163454225829.post-84319685383082090482020-04-03T12:15:31.130-04:002020-04-03T12:15:31.130-04:00Our daughter in Germany pointed out that prior to ...Our daughter in Germany pointed out that prior to the 1918 flu epidemic there was not a flu season. Flu was new and deadly. After that there was flu and cold season and we might as well resign ourselves to it being flu, cold and SARS/Covid season every year as well. We will build immunity to it if we have it so the cases will be less. Also if a vaccine is done right it will slow it down significantly. It is so important to eat well right now to keep the immune system strong. Our groceries were more this week but I felt like the investment in plenty of good fresh produce to keep us really healthy is so important right now. We also bought plenty of eggs and fish for good fats. We typically eat 8-10 servings of fruits and vegetables every day and I mean to keep at it. I have a supply of alfalfa seed for sprouting if need be.<br /><br />Have you tried the oven fried chicken recipe where the chicken is breaded with Bisquick? Since we found that recipe we have not bought fried chicken from out one time. It is delicious. Here is the link https://www.recipezazz.com/recipe/oven-fried-chicken---bisquick-26077<br />I have just been making thighs for us and they are delicious! And super easy. I do line the baking dish with foil to avoid a huge clean up mess and I only make enough for one meal so I do not know how well it reheats. I do find it worthwhile to keep a small box of baking mix on hand for the occasional recipe that calls for it. <br /><br />Well today is bills and the beginning of the budget month for us. We will not go to the bank and get cash for the month as we usually do because I cannot abide the thought of where the cash has been so I started a ledger to keep track of the cash we have not gotten so that we can catch up later. It is not as though we will be going anywhere to need cash anyway. In March we moved a lot of money to CD's since the bottom fell out of the money market. <br /><br />We are needing a ride out through the country too at this point. We are not sure if our little lake front park is still open. Our governor closed all access to beaches and lakes this week since people were still congregating there But, there are always nice drives here since we are close to the mountains. Have a good weekend! Lanahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09380649410508372279noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6959918163454225829.post-29037017800804497522020-04-03T10:18:01.805-04:002020-04-03T10:18:01.805-04:00I noticed that I've spent more at the store th...I noticed that I've spent more at the store than usual. I think in part its due to the fact that I have to purchase what is available. Instead of being able to purchase the store brand of an item I've had to purchase the "premium" item. I am well stocked and hope I don't have to set foot into the store for the rest of April. We'll see.<br /><br />Hubby hung a couple of gutters on our fence last night. I plan to plant lettuce today. My daughter has asked for strawberries in the other. That will require a trip out to purchase plants. I hope that by planting the lettuce I can provide a side dish of salad with a trip to the store.<br /><br />The long drive home sounds lovely. I might have to mention a drive to hubby. I could pack us a lunch to enjoy along the way. I might even have Megan bring along her fishing pole incase we find a spot to fish. I think that might just be what we need. <br />Wendihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02547001714523524390noreply@blogger.com